Midnight in Oklahoma

Occasionally my Grandpa Ray would let my dad stay up until midnight.  That was, I'm sure, a big treat for my dad as a boy.  At midnight in Southern Oklahoma and many parts of the country in those days the TV shut off for the night.  Before signing off the station would play our National Anthem.

"Stand up.  Feet together.  Hand over your heart."  My Grandpa would instruct.

As a proud American and a veteran my Grandpa Ray taught his children to be patriotic and to respect his country's National Anthem and flag.  Dad passed that on to me.  I attend hundreds of sporting events a year and I stand with hand over heart during the anthem each time.  I remember one time in Tripoli, Iowa when the CD player that was supposed to play the anthem wouldn't work I broke out in song to lead the crowd in singing the Star Spangled Banner because it needed to happen before the game.

I say all this not to brag but so you know that I do have a love for this country, a profound thankfulness for the fact that God decided to have me born in the United States of America, a enduring gratitude for those who help make this nation what it is.

But can love for a good thing get in the way of loving God and people well?

"Another time He went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.  Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath.  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.'

Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'  He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.  Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."  Mark 3:1-6

Respecting and honoring the Sabbath was a good thing.  Dads taught this to their boys and their boys taught it to their children.  In fact, God had commanded it.  However, Jesus showed in this story that God desires mercy  and justice over religious activity.

I can almost hear the Pharisees in the story shouting, "What you are doing may be good but you're doing it the wrong way!  Couldn't you heal this man another time?  Couldn't you wait for a more respectful moment to be merciful?"

The Pharisees loved the Sabbath more than the Lord of the Sabbath!

This whole kneeling during the National Anthem thing feels similar to me.  I respect what the flag stands for and what the anthem represents, but do I  love God's ways more?  Do I desire to be merciful more than ceremonially respectful?

I'd prefer a different method of protest, I truly would, but many of us have turned a deaf ear to our brothers and sisters for too long.  Their cries for justice have been raised many times before but we didn't notice until one of our golden calves was threatened.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Our black brothers and sisters are shouting for justice, they are crying out for mercy.  Can we at least give them the mercy of a listening ear?  Can we put ourselves in their shoes, not wear our shoes in their circumstance, but truly lend an empathetic ear?

Truly listening won't disrespect our nation or its troops just like Jesus healing on the Sabbath didn't disrespect the Sabbath.

Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God today.

Should I Comment?

Often on Facebook, Twitter or whatever social media you use you'll come across something and want to comment.  I'm not talking about comments like, "Good for you!" "Congrats" or "Praying for you."  I'm talking about those posts that lure you into a comment war.  The post you scroll by and feel that your voice must be heard in it.

Then it happens.

A comment war.

We've all been there.  We've all gotten into a comment war.  We've all thought, "I'll say this one thing and then I'm out" only to be caught in a seemingly infinite thread involving you and people you didn't even know before you're done.

So, does the Bible have anything to say about this?  I believe it does and I believe the book of Proverbs has the most to say.  Most of these proverbs can be boiled down to "when it doubt just shut up and keep scrolling."  That doesn't mean that there is never a time to enter a discussion, but it does mean that most of the time it's a bad idea... trust me, I've stupidly gotten into these messes.

"When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise." Proverbs 10:19

"A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult." Proverbs 12:16

"Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18

"A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but the heart of fools bursts out folly." Proverbs 12:23

"A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his opinions." Proverbs 18:2

"He who answers before listening
that is his folly and his shame." Proverbs 18:13

"The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity." Proverbs 21:23

There are times to comment, but the writers of the book of Proverbs say that there are more times to hold your tongue.  Facebook and Twitter and the like are great forums for many things.  However, in depth discussions on deep or touchy subjects are not these medias' best uses.  There are very few people that you will persuade via a Facebook comment but you will stir up dissension with many.  Proverbs 6:16-19 says God detests seven things and one of those is "a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

So, when in doubt shut up and keep scrolling.

I know it's tough.  I know some discussions seem irresistible, but be wise and watch your digital tongue.  You may still contribute to the conversation perhaps but I'd argue from Scripture and from experience that more bad than good comes from entering the fray of internet anger.

Before you comment online think about whether that's a wise choice today.